Monday, February 21, 2011

My Tea Rituals

My husband Paul isn’t a tea drinker and so the concept of teacups and saucers is completely foreign to him. “What purpose did this little plate serve?” he asked me the other night while stacking the dishwasher. To which I replied, “It just looked pretty.”

Whilst I will appreciate any cup of tea someone makes for me, there are certain things I am quite specific about when I make it myself.

In the morning, I start with green tea. I make it in either the cute tulip mug I got from my Nanna’s house, the Holly Hobby mug I still have from when I was a little girl or the Cath Kidston mug my Mum recently brought me back from the UK. I’m not fussed as to which brand of green tea I drink. This cup is usually drunk on the go while checking emails, making Grace breakfast or doing some morning chores.

Morning tea and afternoon tea is a cup of English Breakfast which I have white and when I make it myself, I have it in a tea cup and saucer. I usually buy the brand Madura (which has a slightly lower caffeine content) but I do like Twinings too. A sweet treat like a biscuit or piece of slice accompanies these cups of tea and I like them to be hot (not that I drink them hot but I like to make them last). These two cups are my ‘down time’ in the day. The morning one I usually enjoy while Grace has a morning tea snack or while she is playing. My afternoon cup is always during Grace’s nap time when I spent a bit of time at the computer blogging and reading blogs.

At night, I will have either a Milo or a herbal tea (rosehip or lemongrass and ginger or my latest favourite – strawberry, cranberry and raspberry) and once again, I have this cuppa in a mug. This final drink is enjoyed curled up on the couch watching television or reading a book.

Which hot drink do you prefer and are you picky as to how it is made or served? Do you have a favourite cup or mug? I was thinking the other day how many people these days have their own coffee machines to try and replicate a ‘café quality’ at home. Not being a coffee drinker, if you visit my place, I’m sorry to say it will be an instant coffee I will have to offer you… it will be made with love though…

22 comments:

I do have certain mugs that are my faves and I mostly use teacups and sacers when certain friends visit. Lyn drinks coffee so when I make us both a drink (tea, whiet with one for me) our mugs have to match!I do drink milo and very occassionally green tea, but I like T2, Twinnings or Nerada.Yes, only instant coffee in my house too! xx

What a great post Amanda I can just imagine my other half saying that too 'what purpose does this little plate have'!I am a coffee lover and currently use antique espresso cups at home for my first morning short black before I race out the door to work, then 1 milky instant coffee mid morning (unless a colleague offers to do a coffee run in which I just can't say no the real thing!). I only crave a green tea when I'm feeling a bit flat or a lemon and honey when I'm feeling sick. I'm sure its very good for you to start the day with a green tea :)

Tea is my preference when it comes to hot drinks, although when out and about I will treat myself to either a hot chocolate or chai latte. My choices are green and white tea, english breakky and lady grey...I also prefer to drink my tea hot but milky and from a cup and saucer :)

I love my cups of tea. I usually have it black organic tea white, not too much milk and no sugar. I usually use my special cup but sometimes use a small cup without the saucer if I want to drink a camomile tea. I love beautiful cups and saucers but I've never bought one for myself, maybe I should give them a try they are so pretty:) xo

Oh, this made me smile :) I love tea. I love the ritual as much as the drink itself. I only drink tea. I can't abide coffee. I can't even bear mocha ice-cream.I have a cup first thing in the morning, bleary eyed, and in my 'yummy mummy' mug that my boys bought me for mother's day.I also have two more during the day - from leaf if I have the time. Always English Breakfast.Jenxxx

Wow you are a serious tea person Amanda : ) I'm impressed! I love the idea of having different teas at different times, it sounds so peaceful too. I don't drink coffee and I only occassionally drink tea but it has to be green tea or green tea and mint, the tea at work is dreadful and I always forget to take my own so I just stick to water....how boring is that!

I love that you have your morning and arvo tea in a cup with a saucer, wonderful!

I don't drink tea or coffee, have never liked the taste of them. I'm very much a water girl. I very very occasionally have a milo or hot chocolate, only really in Winter and only as a treat because milk doesn't really agree with me. When I do have one though I always make sure I froth up the milk with a milk frother and I prefer it more milky so I don't put water in and just heat up the milk in the microwave. If I'm having a hot chocolate out I always ask for half strength chocolate because otherwise I find them too strong.

When it's hot I'll sometimes have a cold milo with a scoop of crunchy milo on top, but again only as a treat because of the dairy issues. However, now I am craving a cold milo!!

Hi Amanda! Having worked for a tea magazine I would have to say my favorite is Dilmah. It's a Ceylon black tea and I looove the original. They also carry a line of boutique teas, but I guess I am pretty plain when it comes to tea. Hope you are well!

Hi amanda, its so nice to meet another non coffee drinker!!! I feel like an alien sometimes being the only person I know who doesnt "do" coffee!!! I love a cup of tea! first thing in the morning - cant start my day without it! Then maybe only one or two later on depending on how hot it is, more in the winter! I drink normal tea with a splash of hilo, but every now and then, I like to have a peppermint tea (is it Nevada? - cant remember the brand name...) Any old mug will do for me!!! But isnt it funny how it always tastes better when someone else makes it!!!!Laura xxx

I love this post. It's all about the ritual and the anticipation for me... although coffee is my choice. I love knowing that I'll have a cup when the little ones are asleep in the afternoon... some wind down time before the school pick up wind up. gxo

A woman after my own heart! Lovely. I start the day with my FairTrade English breakfast in a Portmeirion mug, then onto my 500ml Cath Kidston mug for lunchtime. I look forward to this so much, it's when the WeeBear is asleep and I have the time to get through the half a litre of tea hehe. Evening I'll often have a fairtrade hot chocolate too!

I've had my eye on the T2 cups and saucers for some time...just delightful!

I used to drink a lot of tea, but now I find myself a hopeless coffee addict. I would love brewing a little pot of herbal tea and sipping it from fine china. Since our move from Geraldton, I've replaced the china with little stainless steel expresso cups, and the dainty teapot with a Nespresso machine! I really should replace my afternoon coffee with a delicious vanilla green tea from T2. Perhaps the purchase of some gorgeous new china cups would be the incentive I need :)

Oooh I love your tea rituals :) I'm a big coffee drinker....my caffeine addiction developed after having my daughter....who is now 3 & still doesn't sleep!!!! But I am also a big tea lover :) I have a green tea each day...usually before bed or late afternoon. And I love a good English Breakfast once a day. In winter I seem to drink more tea. I love lemongrass tea :) Gorgeous post Amanda xo

Lovely post, Amanda! I used to drink coffee almost everyday. I love the smell of it especially. I also love tea. Recently I have been drinking more tea and trying to reduce the amount of coffee I consume. I usually like tea in the morning and afternoon. Sometimes when I get hungry, I make tea and put honey. I used to own tea cups with saucers, but I actually got rid of them.... It is one of those things I regret getting rid of. I need to get a new set. Someday.

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About Me

Hi! I’m Amanda from Western Australia - a former primary school teacher now full-time stay-at-home Mum to our two girls, Grace and Sophie. My days are filled with all things homely – cooking, crafting, decorating and of course, life with my husband and our two precious girls.